for my gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. For you know also the manner in which I behaved myself among you for your sakes.

For the word of the Lord has been sounded forth from you, and its sound has been heard not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where the tidings of your faith toward God have been spread abroad, so that I have no need to speak of it.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you did not fail of its purpose;

For my preaching was not grounded on a delusion, or on impure motives, on in deceit.

But as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not to please men, but to please God, who is testing my motives.

So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, because you had become dear to me.

You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses??nd so is God??ow pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers.

For this reason also I am giving continual thanks to God, because when you heard from me the spoken word of God, you received it not as the word of men, but as the word of God (which in truth it is), who himself is effectually at work in you believe.

But I, my brothers, although torn from you for a short season (in presence, not in heart), made eager efforts to behold you face to face with strong longing.

Night and day I am praying earnestly that I may see you face to face, and may perfect whatever is yet lacking in your faith.

Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you learned of me how to walk so as to please God??nd you are actually doing so??hat you abound in it yet more and more.

Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who know not God.

For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness.

So that he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gave you his Holy Spirit.

It is not needed that I should write to you about brotherly love; for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not sorrow like other men, who have no hope.

Now as to the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that "the Day" should come upon you like a bandit.

For you are all sons of light, and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.

So then let us not be sleeping as do the rest, but let us be watchful and self-controlled.

For those who are sleeping, sleep in the night, and those who are drunken, are drunken in the night.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Quench not the Spirit.

Do not despise prophesyings.